MARKET LEADERS JOIN FORCES TO DRIVE DIGITAL RADIO GROWTH
The UK’s largest car audio retailer and the biggest brand in domestic digital radio have joined forces to develop and manufacture a range of new products that are set to shake-up the in-car audio market.
Market-leading digital radio maker Pure and in-car technology experts Halfords, today unveiled the first fruits of an exclusive partnership that began a year ago with the aim of bringing to market products that would accelerate DAB listening and sales - a market worth an estimated £2 billion.
The collaboration means that both brands are now well placed to capitalise on the government’s digital switchover plans – an announcement about which is expected later this year.
Halfords’ product manager Jon Oliver said: “There is now real momentum in the transition to digital radio and we anticipate that a government switchover will trigger a surge in consumer interest – just as it did with Digital TV.
“Digital radios are starting to make significant in-roads into the analogue market and our own sales of these units are currently outpacing wider market growth. Combining our retail and fitting capability with Pure’s award-winning technological capabilities means we can offer customers an unbeatable digital radio solution.”
There are over 30 million car owners that have yet to adopt digital radio technology and Halfords is well equipped to deal with large numbers of installations thanks to its network of 467 stores, which house over 1000 IMI qualified fitters, with a combined capacity of 120,000 fits per annum.
Pure’s director of marketing, Nick Hucker, added: “Since launching the iconic Evoke-1 in 2002, we’ve become the brand most consumers trust and associate with digital radio. We know that our customers love the great content and user experience that digital radio delivers in their home and we are delighted to be working with the country’s leading car audio retailer to bring the same experience to their cars, where over 20% of radio listening take place.
“Collaborating with Halfords means our new in-car solutions are now accessible via an unrivalled number of retail outlets as well as online and we have deliberately developed versatile (single DIN*)
products with leading edge features to secure mass market appeal. This is an important step forward for the sales of in-car digital radio and will be a significant catalyst in helping digital radio switchover.”
Available in Halfords stores and from www.halfords.com from today, both Highway H240Di (SRP £129.99) and Highway H260DBi (SRP £149.99) are advanced in-car stereos that incorporate digital, FM and AM tuners, great audio quality and iPod/ iPhone and USB connectivity. Highway H260DBi also comes with wireless streaming and hands free calling via Bluetooth.
Highway H240Di
- DAB digital, FM and AM radio
- Dedicated DAB button – one press away from hearing favourite stations in digital quality sound
- Crystal clear audio, scrolling text and station tuning by name
- Save favourite stations as pre-sets for easy access of the move
- Connection for iPod/ iPhone and USB with full music control and charging
- CD/CD-R/RW compatible
- CD/CD-ROM and MP3 CD/ USB playback with bookmarking – perfect for listening to spoken word on the commute
- Aux input
- Detachable fascia with carry case
- 4 x 45 W
Highway H260DBi – additional features:
- Customisable button lighting allows users to match Highway 260DBi to dashboard illumination
- Safely make and receive phone calls via Bluetooth using Highway’s controls and external microphone is included to ensure the best call clarity
- Support for wireless Bluetooth audio playback with A2DP controls
- 4 x 50 W
Ends
Media contacts:
To arrange an interview with a Halfords, Pure or Digital Radio UK representative contact:
Stuart Humphreys, Halfords Automotive PR Manager, T: 01527 513410, M: 07738 751930, E: stuart.humphreys@halfords.co.uk
Vicky Hewlett, Senior PR Manager, Pure, T: 01923 260511, M: 07810 808516 E: vicky.hewlett@pure.com
Editor’s Notes
*DIN refers to a standardised radio/stereo size for vehicles (large enough to accept a CD).
Stuart Humphreys, Halfords Automotive PR Manager, T: 01527 513410, M: 07738 751930, E: stuart.humphreys@halfords.co.uk
About Halfords Group plc
The Group is the UK’s leading retailer of automotive and leisure products and, through Halfords Autocentres, also one of the UK’s leading independent car servicing and repair operators.
Halfords customers shop at 467 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland and at Halfords.com - for collection at their local store or direct home delivery.
Halfords Autocentres operates from 290 sites nationally and offers motorists dealership-quality MOTs, repairs, and car servicing at affordable prices.
Halfords employs approximately 12,000 staff and sells around 10,000 different product lines in stores – increasing to around 16,000 lines at Halfords.com. The product offering encompasses significant ranges across car parts, in-car technology, car seats, roof boxes, outdoor leisure and camping equipment as well as cycles.
About Pure
Pure is a world leading consumer electronics manufacturer and leads the way in music streaming and radio systems and entertainment cloud services with the Pure Connect portal www.pureconnect.com as well as innovating in new areas such as the TV set top box market. Designed and engineered in the UK, all of Pure’s products are manufactured with the environment in mind and at ethically audited facilities. Pure is a division of Imagination Technologies Group plc. See www.pure.com.
